Haitian security forces executed a drone-assisted strike on properties linked to the country’s most powerful gang commander, Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, escalating the government’s campaign to dismantle gang control in the capital.
WEBDESK | ACT GLOBAL MEDIA | JANUARY 18, 2026
According to local reports and official statements, a drone attack in Port-au-Prince’s Delmas neighborhood targeted at least one of Chérizier’s homes on Wednesday, causing significant explosions and the destruction of buildings. Authorities say the operation was designed to weaken the gang’s hold on strategic areas of the city.
The Haitian National Police, speaking through a communications officer, described the operation as an effort to “destroy his house and minimize any possibility of his group returning to the area,” underscoring its intent to disrupt gang operations rather than simply damage infrastructure.
Who Is ‘Barbecue’?
Jimmy Chérizier — widely known by his nickname “Barbecue” — is a former police officer turned gang kingpin and the leader of the Viv Ansanm coalition, a powerful alliance of armed groups that control large swaths of Port-au-Prince’s neighborhoods.
Chérizier has been implicated in numerous violent crimes and has become a central figure in Haiti’s ongoing security crisis, with gangs exerting influence amid a near-decade of political instability.
Broader Security Push
The drone strike was part of a broader campaign by Haitian forces to regain control of gang-held districts, supported by international assistance and enhanced tactical capabilities. Haiti has not held national elections for years, and escalating violence has compounded the country’s political and humanitarian challenges.
While the immediate impact of the strike — including whether Chérizier was present or sustained any injuries — remains unconfirmed, the use of drones in this operation highlights a shift towards technology-enabled counter-gang strategies in environments where conventional policing has struggled to contain entrenched armed groups.
